Nimbus Dance Works Receives $15K Grant From Local Foundation

Nimbus Dance Works is pleased to announce it has received a generous grant of $15,000 from a local foundation who chooses to remain unnamed. The funds will support scholarships for youth ages 2-18 to attend the School of Nimbus Dance Works, including the School's Pre-Professional Program, Nimbus Youth Ensemble, and Junior Youth Ensemble. Additionally, the funds will support JC Grooves, an after-school program serving middle school youth in the Jersey City Public Schools. The JC Grooves program has been inactive since 2011 when it was shelved due to lack of funding.

In addition to providing access for youth of all ages to the School of Nimbus Dance Works' classes in ballet, modern and hip hop, the grant funding will allow youth to participate in Nimbus' Pre-Professional Program, Nimbus Youth Ensemble and Junior Youth Ensemble. These programs offer rigorous and technical dance training to diverse local youth who seek a professionally-oriented dance experience. Additionally, Opportunity Knocks - a program hosted by St. Peter's University directed by Dr. Edgar Rivera Colon, provides dance students with ongoing interpersonal and professional skills by exploring topics related to college preparation, time management, health education, and general self development. School of Nimbus Dance Works students have a strong track record of acceptance to the area's top high school and college dance programs, including: Montclair State University, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, High Tech High School, County Prep High School, and others.

The grant also supports the reinstatement of the JC Grooves After School Program, shuttered in 2011 due to lack of funds. Nimbus Dance Works serves over 1,100 youth each year in the Jersey City Schools with ongoing dance programs during-school and after-school. A signature programs, JC Grooves, offers a unique combination of dance training, performance, first-hand exposure to working with professional dancers, and arts education for Jersey City middle school students. Those students who seek to continue their dance training are offered opportunities (and scholarship funds) to enroll at the School of Nimbus Dance Works. Through this system, young dance students are afforded opportunities to pursue their art form, and, just as important, are provided a healthy, safe and productive outlet for their out-of school time.

Says Nimbus Artistic Director Samuel Pott: "It is essential that Jersey City foundations, businesses, government and individuals take the lead with supporting local non-profits that serve our youth. If we wish to build sustainable cultural organizations, the time for action is now in the form of financial support. Nimbus could not be more grateful for this grant which will deliver a real and measurable impact on youth who lack access to high quality arts and cultural programs. The School of Nimbus Dance Works provides a beacon for young people to focus their energy, passion and need to express themselves. This grant allows Nimbus to create this sacred space for more youth at our school and onsite in Jersey City middle schools."

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